Toe protecting bed clothing rail

ABSTRACT

A support for easing the pressure of sheets and bed clothing on the feet of a sleeping person. A telescopic rod is pivotally connected at each end to a bracket which is positioned between mattress and springs.

United States Patent [1 91 Reinhard [451 May 7,1974

TOE PROTECTING BED CLOTHING RAIL [76] Inventor: Florence Reinhard, 324W. Main St., Crestline, Ohio 44827 [22] Filed: Feb. 7, 1972 21 Appl.No.: 179,138

[52] US. Cl. 5/319, 5/317 R [51] Int. Cl. A47c 21/00 [58] Field ofSearch 5/317, 319

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,676,340 4/1954 Garriott etal. 5/319 2,710,414 6/l955 Emery 5/3l9 Primary Examiner-Casmir A.Nunberg 57 ABSTRACT A support for easing the pressure of sheets and bedclothing on the feet of a sleeping person. A telescopic rod is pivotallyconnected at each end to a bracket which is positioned between mattressand springs.

Y 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDW m4 3,808,614

' SHEET 1 [IF 2 PATENTED MAY 7 H74 S-LHLET 2 m 3 FIG. 3

FIG. 4

TOE PROTECTING BED CLOTHING RAIL BACKGROUND SUMMARY The invention has apair of angle brackets each formed'with an upwardly extending supportleg and a centrally extending flat leg for insertion of the flat legsbetween a mattress and springs. A pair of telescopically engaged rodsform a cross beam with an approximately right angle bend near each endand pivotally mounted at opposite ends to a different one of saidbrackets.

DESCRITPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FlG. 1 is a view in perspective'of a bedhaving a preferred embodiment of the .invention operatively mountedthereon.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective illustrating the opera- 7 tion of thepreferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view in perspective of the preferred embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view in perspective of a bracket and the end of thecross beam portions of the preferred embodiment of the invention. I

DETAILED DESCRlPTlON The toe rail is basically a metal or plastic rod lelevated above the foot of the bed 2 to hold up the bedding away fromthe feet. A bracket 3 and 4 on each side of the bed is placed betweenthe mattress 5 and the spring 6. The bracket is preferably 6 incheshigh, 6

inches wide at the base and 6 inches deep under the mattress, so as tobe firm enough and not slop or wabble during the night; The rod 1 isattached to the brackets 3 and 4 with a nut 16 and screw 7 extendingthrough a hole 13 so it can be raised to the up position 18 illustratedin FIG. 2 when in use and down or forward when the bed 2 is made up ornot in use. A stop tab 8 at the far end of the bracket 3 keeps the rodfrom falling backwards and a similar tab 9 is provided on bracket 4.This is a precautionary measure only and really not necessary. Anindented groove 10 on the bracket matching the bulge of the rod 1 keepsthe rod in an upright position, causing a lock which prevents the rod 1from falling forward or backwards. When not in use you merely push therod forward forcing the bulge of the rod out of the groove on thebracket and the rod will lie flat on the bed. The bracket will be madeout of the same material as the rod. It must be strong and sturdy so itwill not bend or give.

The rod as shown in H6. 3 consists of two hollow tubes 11 and 12, onefitting into the other much like an ordinary curtain rod. The rod can bemade out of plastic or aluminum or chrome. The thickness of the rod 1can be of various sizes either thick or thin. lt can be separated at themiddlefor easy installation, when changing the bedding, and can fit thevarying widths of beds. The height can also be adjusted on the sides ofthe rod from for example, 8 to 10 inches. The adjustments in heightswill be on the deluxe models only. I

feel that a non-adjustable rod will serve just as well and would be usedinmost cases. I suggest making four sizes.

l. The single or twin size bed extending from 40 to inches 2. The fullsize bed extending from 50 to inches.

3. The queen size bed extending from 60 to inches. 4. The king size bedextending from 70 to inches.

These sizes can also be consolidated into two basic sizes, Regular sizefor the twin and full size bed and extra large size for the queen andking size beds.

The toe rail will be a product that anyone can buy for their ownsleeping comfort at home. Before the tow rail makeshift props were usedand seen only in hospitals, using anything from pillows to boards. Thetoe rail will be aimed at the general public as well as to thehospitals.

Consider the many hospital patients that are really sickand bed-ridden,mostly the elderly who must suffer from cramped feet along with theirmany bed sores andaching bones. What about the paralyzed patients thatcan not turn over without aid and must lie endlessly on his back? Dothey also have to put up with sore toes if they are indeed fortunateenough to have any feeling in their feet at all? Several toe rails canbe placed along the bed in the treatment of burn-patients. There aremany other hospital cases too numerous to mention that will benefit bythis invention. lve mentioned just a few. Then there are the many, manypeople at home who are fine and healthy but sufferfrom ingrown toenails,corns, bunions, calluses and just plain tired feet. This will be a bigrelief in that department and will probably be the biggest users of toerail. Lets not forget the pregnant woman who suffers from leg cramps andvaricose veins. Toe rail will benefit those cases that must sleep withtheir feet elevated.

Toe rail will not cure these many ills but it could make the suffering alittle more bearable and a lot less painful. Most heavy people andpeople with big feet will find this a real comfort.

The toe rail will be convenient, economical, safe and a newrevolutionary idea in sleeping comfort.

Convenient because it can easily be installed and removed when changingthe bedding. Also convenient because a person can crawl into bed and bypushing the rod up with his foot it will lock into the up position. Whenmaking the bed it can easily be pushed forward with the hand to the downposition.

Ecomonical because of its simple make and construction it will be soldat an honest price that anyone can afford to pay. it will be sold to thegeneral public as well as to hospitals and nursing homes. Toe rail willbe packaged in such a way that all the purchaser has to do is to screwthe rods and brackets together.

Toe rail is not recommended for use on childrens beds. Children like towrestle and jump on the bed which might result in unnecessary headinjury and other accidents.

Last but not least, the comfort it will give the toes and feet becauseof the many aforementioned conditions. The toe rail will pay for itselfin comfort alone.

What I claim is:

1. A laterally adjustable bedcover support in an operable positioncomprising:

a. a pair of angle brackets, each bracket formed with an upwardlyextending support leg and a centrally extending, flat leg for insertionof said flat legs on opposite sides of a bed between a mattress andsprings wherein each of said support legs comprises a flat sheet offlexible material and is formed with a flexibly, releasable grooveindented in said sheet and extending generally radially upwardly fromthe pivot axis of said cross beam for releasably retaining the crossbeam in an upright position; and

b. a cross beam comprising a pair of slidably, telescopically engagedrods, said cross beam having an approximately right angle bend near eachend and pivotally mounted at its opposite ends to a different one ofsaid support legs.

2. A bedcover support according to claim 1 wherein each of said supportlegs is formed with a flexibly, releasable notch extending generallyradially upwardly from the pivot axis of said cross beam for releasablyretaining the cross beam in an upright position.

3. A bedcover support according to claim 1 wherein a centrally extendingstop tab protrudes from said support leg for limiting the pivotalrotation of said cross beam.

1. A laterally adjustable bedcover support in an operable positioncomprising: a. a pair of angle brackets, each bracket formed with anupwardly extending support leg and a centrally extending, flat leg forinsertion of said flat legs on opposite sides of a bed between amattress and springs wherein each of said support legs comprises a flatsheet of flexible material and is formed with a flexibly, releasablegroove indented in said sheet and extending generally radially upwardlyfrom the pivot axis of said cross beam for releasably retaining thecross beam in an upright position; and b. a cross beam comprising a pairof slidably, telescopically engaged rods, said cross beam having anapproximately right angle bend near each end and pivotally mounted atits opposite ends to a different one of said support legs.
 2. A bedcoversupport according to claim 1 wherein each oF said support legs is formedwith a flexibly, releasable notch extending generally radially upwardlyfrom the pivot axis of said cross beam for releasably retaining thecross beam in an upright position.
 3. A bedcover support according toclaim 1 wherein a centrally extending stop tab protrudes from saidsupport leg for limiting the pivotal rotation of said cross beam.